Emollient applicator for attachment to an electric shaver



M. J. REGAN EMOLLIENT APPLICATOR FOR .AT'IACHMENT TO AN ELECTRIC SHAVERNov, 11, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1967 'INVENTOR.MALACHYJ-PEGAIV v I Nov. 11, 1969 M. J. REGAN 3,477,127

EMOLLIENT APPLICATOR FOR ATTACHMENT To AN ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed Ndv. 15,1967 v v 2 sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. v flf/MAC'IIY J EEG/Ml United StatesPatent 3,477,127 EMOLLIENT APPLICATOR FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN ELECTRICSHAVER Malachy J. Regan, 1516 York Ave., New York, N.Y. 10028 Filed Nov.15, 1967, Ser. No. 683,335 Int. Cl. B26b 19/48; B08b 1/00 US. Cl. 3041Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a method andapparatus for preparing a mans face for shaving with an electric shaver,to prevent nicking, chafing and burning of the skin and pulling of thebeard, such as is frequently experienced, by the application of asuitable emollient substance simultaneously with the act of shaving.

It is common knowledge among users of electric shavers that a toughbeard or a tender skin, and particularly these two in combination, makesit exceedingly uncomfortable to cut the beard sufficiently close toachieve a smooth, well-groomed appearance. Furthermore, when an electricshaver is operated for more than a few moments, it heats up and the heatof the cutting heads increases the discomfort experienced by the userand leaves the skin reddened and chafed.

Many users of electric shavers have become inured to this burning andpulling, because of the advantages of speed and the elimination ofpreparatory lathering and the post-shaving application of lotion,required for a blade shave.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide means forconditioning the face and neck so that an-electric shaver will cut thebeard clean and close without burning the skin. When the device of thepresent invention is used, with lotion applied simultaneously with theaction of the shaver, the latter is prevented frrom heating up, thusgiving a greater measure of comfort to the face and neck. In addition,the present invention prevents particles of beard that have been cutoff, from being passed repeatedly through the cutting heads, therebyobstructing the action of the shaving head upon the beard which remainsuncut, and this result is achieved to an even greater extent when theemollient used has an oil base, thus effecting an improvement in thecutting action of the shaver.

As is commonly known, the skin is more susceptible to burn when it isdry than when it is moist. Furthermore, the beard may be cut more easilywhen it is moist.

For the purpose of this invention, therefore, a device for applicationto the face and neck of a suitable emollient, simultaneously with theshaving action, is shown in the attached drawings forming a part of thisapplication, in which like numbers indicate the same parts in allfigures, and in which FIGURE 1 shows the head of an electric shaver ofone of the conventional configurations, having the applicator adhesivelyattached to the shaver head;

FIGURE 2 shows the electric shaver as in FIGURE 1, but with the deviceof the present invention attached by means of the mating action ofridges or projections on the internal periphery of the device, withgrooves or depressions on the shaver head;

FIGURE 3 shows the device of the present invention, detached from theshaver head, made into a substantially rigid form;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing the device of thepresent invention in the form of a flex- 3,477,127 Patented Nov. 11,1969 ICC ible, elastic member suited to use with electric shavers ofvarious sizes and configurations, and having the applicator meansintegrally attached to said member;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-section taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is-a plan view, part sectional, of another embodiment of thepresent invention, wherein the applicator is mounted on a roller on eachside of the shaver head;

FIGURE 8 is an end view of the device as in FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a cross-section taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a conventional electric shaver 10is shown having cutting heads 11, 11 and groove 12 on the side of thehead, provided to accommodate the clips of the cover (not shown). Theapplicator material 13 is adhesively attached upon the shaver head,surrounding the cutting head assembly.

In FIGURE 2, the device of the present invention, in the form of asubstantially rigid frame 14 having the applicator material 13integrally attached thereto, is shown fitted upon the shaver by means ofridges or projections 15 mating with grooves 12.

As the invention appears in FIGURE 3, the parts thereof may be moreeasily discerned, and FIGURE 4 shows the construction of the device.

In order to accommodate a single device for use with variousconfigurations of shavers, the flexible, elastic member 16 shown inFIGURE 5 is provided, wherein spaced apart projections 17, 17 upon theinternal periphery of said member permit the same to be fitted uponshavers of various configurations by the mating of said projections withthe grooves of the respective shaver heads, the applicator material 13being integrally attached to said member, with suitable separationpoints as at 18 to permit stretching of the member without distortion ordetachment of said applicator material.

Referring to FIGURE 7, the applicator 13 has a generally cylindricalconfiguration, and disposed longitudinally therethrough, mounting means19 for retaining said applicators in close relationship with the shaverhead. The details of construction of this embodiment are more clearlyshown in FIGURES 8 and 9.

In use, the device of the present invention is either adhesivelyattached to, or clipped onto, the electric shaver after removal of theprotective cover therefrom; and a suitable emollient such as aconventional shaving lotion or an oil-based healing or cooling liquid isapplied to the absorbent material of the said applicator. This may beaccomplished either by immersion of said applicator into the emollient,or by pouring small quantities of the latter upon the applicatormaterial.

The shaver is then passed across the surface of the neck and face, wherethe beard is to be removed, thus moistening the skin and heardsimultaneously with the cutting action of the shaver, and the beard iscut off without chafing, burning or nicking the skin. By softening thebeard and shaving simultaneously, shaving time is re- ,duced, and saidshaving time is further reduced because a larger area may be shaved at atime, with fewer strokes. No more short strokes of the shaver arerequired, and the length of the stroke to be used is limited only by thecontour of the face and the area required to be shaved.

The embodiment of FIGURE 7 provides the added advantage of a massagingaction of the rollers as they are moved back and forth across the faceand neck.

When an oil-based emollient is used, the oil tends to hold the particlesof beard and carry them along, instead of leaving them to be cut andre-cut as the shaver is moved back and forth across the skin. This oilbase also serves to improve the effectiveness of the cutting heads ofthe shaver.

When the shaving is completed, the film of emollient remaining on theskin serves to protect the skin, eliminating the need for an after-shavelotion such as has heretofore been necessary with conventional shavingmethods and devices.

What I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is:

1. In combination with an electric shaver having a shaving surface, anemollient applicator comprising a body of absorptive material and meansfor attaching the applicator to the shaver so that the body ofabsorptive material is positioned along at least a portion of the edgeof the shaving surface, said attaching means including an annular framehaving a size and configuration similar to the periphery of the shavingsurface, means upon the internal periphery of said frame for engagementwith groove means which surround at least in part the shaving surface,and wherein the body of absorbent material is a compressible sponge-likematerial mounted on the outer periphery of said frame.

2. In combination with an electric shaver having a shaving surface, anemollient applicator comprising a body of absorptive material and meansfor attaching the applicator to the shaver so that the body ofabsorptive material is positioned along at least a portion of the edgeof the shaving surface, said attaching means being an elastic memberhaving spaced apart at intervals upon the inner periphery thereofprojections for engagement with groove means which surround at least inpart the shaving surface, and wherein the absorbent material is acompressible sponge-like material mounted on the outer periphery of saidapplicator.

3. In combination with an electric shaver having a shaving surface, anemollient applicator comprising a body of absorptive compressiblesponge-like material and means for adhesively attaching and retainingthe applicator to the outer periphery of said shaver surface so that thebody of absorptive material is positioned along at least a portion ofthe edge of the shaving surface, said compressible,

sponge-like material is adhesively attached and retained upon the outerperiphery of said shaver surface.

4. Applicator means for use with electric shavers, wherein a frame ofconfiguration substantially similar to the shaving surface of saidelectric shaver is mounted upon said shaver surface, with means upon theinternal periphery of said frame for attachment thereof to the outerperiphery of said shaving surface, and having upon at least a portion ofthe outer periphery of said frame absorbent, compressible, sponge-likematerial of such nature as to receive, retain, and upon pressure beingapplied thereto, to release an emollient substance, such emollienthaving the effect, when applied by such pressure upon the face and neck,of softening the skin and heard to permit close shaving of the beardwithout burning or chafing of the skin.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein said absorbent, compressible,sponge-like material comprises at least one body of substantiallycylindrical configuration, having a portion of said frame extendinglongitudinally therethrough to permit rotation of said sponge-likematerial upon the axis formed by said portion of the frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,663,809 3/1928 Moon 30-452,677,883 5/1954 Schallgruber 401- XR 3,103,299 9/1963 Werft 30-41 XR3,360,855 1/1968 Gwinn 30-41 FOREIGN PATENTS 220,967 2/1925 GreatBritain.

690,828 4/1953 Great Britain.

203,759 1/1956 Australia.

66,602 1/ 1957 France.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner ROBERT I. SMITH, Assistant ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R. 15-10493

